New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-04

cians and matter relating to church music The
selected and the magazine presents neat typographical
appearance
"RUDDE-GORE" AND SAVOY OPERAS.
AN INTERVIEW WITH Mr.. W. s. GILBERT
From The Pail Mall Gazette.
Mr.. Gilbert sitting in that sumptuous library Of
his in his often described house in Harrington
gardens, evidently in state OF extreme Utilization.
hearsas were progressing favoraby, for Mr. Gilbert
looks very grim indeed when things are not going to
his fancy fhad called ask for few OF the spirited
pen and ink sketches which the most popular play
wright OF the day loves to scribbe his manuscript,
perhaps to assist train OF thought perhaps TO see bow
the child of his brain looks on paper. Alasl had
come late Mr. Gilbert is not like some litteraeurs
and dramatsts who preserve their manuscripts with
religious care, and pay Cusn or Zaehnsdorf iaoa
ous for inclOsing them in the immortality OF calf
Not he lie loves Liberty fabrics, and high art, rich
stuffs old oak, brass work, cabinets, Eastern rugs,
Oriental settees and other little matters when bis
manuscripts SECURE him. but the soled sheets them
selves only to remind him OF weeks OF toll so he
makes a bonfire Of them Nor is he exigeant about
his pens his paper his ink like some great men,
Blue-lined foOlscap is good enough for him. II the
manuscripts had been burned there yet remained some
almost undecipherabe sheets sewn together on which
we're scrubbed Mr.. Gberts analysis and guide to the
stage management of the new opera NTH the play
wright explains the mysterious writings and tho
csbalistc they In eDie But Mr. Gilbert
shows you box full of little obong blocks, much like
box of toy bricks of different sizes and coors and
explains how each one is made to scale, how u
then Mr. Gilbert's system of stage management be-
comes easy to understand, aud one admires his un-
trng pains and exact methods SO this box contains
block representing every member of the company,
different coors representing principals and chorus,
dividing them into sopranos, tenors BASES and so
on. Mr. Gilbert also has models made to scale OF the
different platforms used that he Is able to rehearse
his effects the quiet of his own library and can thus
70 20 the e in his head Anv one
who has attended the rehearsals of new play will I'M
derstand what a saving of time and temper is thus
effected
Many details of the opera have already been
published but Mr. Gilbert good emo Ugh to talk
freely concerning its BIRTH ks growth and its prepare
ton. alt is quite true that you make merry at our
secrecy, but assure you do not lock our doors.
We must however, protect ourselves IL Is the
American pirates for whom have IA deadly hatred
But We shall soon he even with them. At present
Massachusetts is the only State where we have abso-
lutte protection against them In the other States we
have to fight. But pretty powerful trio and
are determined to do battle with every American
manager who attempts to produce one OF our plays
without paying the tee We nave fought, we are
pirates beginning to fear our pugnacity, aud
think shall win in the eud"
HOW AN IMPREsARIo WAS BAFFLED.
But the public has idea of the lodges ono has to
resort to. | will tell you story OF one American
impresarlo who wished TO produce The Mikado. We
told him our terms he declined them and said he
would produce IL without paying fee lie came
to London to buy the costumes he went to Libertys
ordered whole set of dresses. We heard OF this
and we went to l.ibertys and put our case. Mr..
American took the boat Tor Paris. In that boat was
one Of Mr.. Carte's emssaries who slept not. Tho
American drove to his hotel on reaching Paris Mr.
Cartes emssary drove round all the japanese shops
and bought up every bit OF stuff in the market The
next morning our American drove round to find HIM
self again foed Then he returned to London, and
tried the City, Here again beat him. Then he
took ship for New-York. So did We. In this way.
Our American company was ready. Mr.. Carte took
them down to Liverpool III special tram, very
quietly They taken board in special tender.
and taken below decks at once with strict Jnnctions
not appear until after leaving Queensown' rS Mr.
they avoided the pressman and the cable On
arriving in New-iork they found our American hend
had announced The Mikado in q weeks time. lie
had yamped up the dresses in New York. But he
foIed again, for produced the authorized edition
week in front OF him. When it is said that because
90 to Egypt therefore am writing Eg, ptian OPERA
do not contradict it, Ii misleads the Americans On
the slender basis OF this rumor hear that more than
manager had bought Egyptian dresses -
THE COST OF PRODUCTION.
Ruddy-y gore; the Witches Curse is a burlesque
of ashoned meodrams laid in the time OF George
IL The production Will cost 10000 1000. tor
the dresses are. of course 10 be very rich and
elaborate. Mr. Gilbert mentioned the hssar uniforms
OF tho period, which have been reproduced with an
admirable fidelity, from the heavy gold lace to the
pattern on the hutton. Some OF these dazzling costumes
will ESQ apiece As an instance OF the thorough
ness with which the Save. operas are proinced am
thrown on one sde they were found TO resemble the
costumes OF the last act OF Monte Cristo'
On and of have been working al Rundy-gore for
wear and halt" SAID Mr.. Gilbert tor as one
opera is produced never rest until have found q
theme tor another but having found it, can hnsh IL
in ak weeks il work hard. The pressure all depends
upoD the prospects OF the current opera when nave
finished the numbers send them 10 Sir Arthur SUN
van who has been worRiug hard know. for a number
of weeks from mid day TO the next morning. yer
do any work in the daytime, except lehears9is, pnt
generally begin writing at III J. m' ana 20 10 pea Ut
or A. NJ md lemon sQuash the best i'luid 10 WORK
on smoke, but not 50 much as used TO-
MR. GILBERr's NERVOUSNESS.
Mr. Gilbert has never seen OF his own plays
acted for fourteen years, owing 10 excessive nervous
ness which he admits grows upon hin every uN' II
il easy 20 understand that playwright Is 100 nervous
10 be present nj the first night Of his play Dnt now
ever pronounced the success. Mr. Gilbert adheres to
his determination Only Oh one occasion has he ueen
persuaded To make the exper"ent. ana theh nc poa'
down. The Duke OF Edinburgh once sent Tor MN 10
his box TO talk to him this very peculi ANY, pe'8
pressed TO stay Mr. Gilbert had no option Dut 10 A9
a seat IN the box. But presently he bryan 10 io'i
hotter and hotter, fainter ana FAINTER anu h"' W o
the Duke to release hin. o;
We have "A sort u superstition about Fever hAhs
our titles until Just before the opera l. prodHcc
not easy TO get "a good title daresay hed hh'l
dozen tor this printing them III bock letters 70 sec I
effect OH Il eye. We finally settled on kuu9y-
We only changed 'Ttipoo to Inc Miksao ~ '"'
last moment
> ash ed Mr.. Gilbert whether he ever proposeu "
change his scheme OF opera. question 70 VII, WIZ, h
replied by saying that the supply wUua "m".'
equal to the demand. " IL is true, he went Oh:
IL Is difficult to present stock company III "in
aspects. l ain a believer In stock companies ihS
Many members OF our present company have peen
with tor they know and are thorough
ly trained In ways Now they know one another
and there ieSe, many warm personal freud
sI.a.. nrxIaul